A Wabash County student has been named recipient of a four-year, full-tuition scholarship as the Community Foundation of Wabash County 2013 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar.

Cutter Koehler will receive full tuition to the Indiana college of his choice and a $900 yearly stipend for required books and equipment.

Koehler will study for a career in medicine or related field and is considering colleges and universities in Indiana, including Butler University, Manchester University, and Trine University. He is a 2013 graduate of Wabash High School, 2012-2013 student body president, team captain of Academic Super Bowl, and a member of Key Club.

After school and on weekends, he works as a pharmacy technician-in-training and is also an attendant for Eagles Theater. Cutter Koehler is the son of Ken and Tracy Koehler, Wabash.

In addition to being an outstanding student, Koehler has an interest in politics, especially as it relates to healthcare. “There is no greater way to have a profound impact than politics. I would like to join local government and try and work my way up the political ladder. I would use my knowledge about the healthcare system to make sure everyone can be treated fairly and economically.”

In an interview, Koehler pointed to Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein as an important book in his personal education. As a future doctor, he appreciated her consideration of the limits of science and the limits of humanity. “It is interesting to think that a book written in the nineteenth century could have such enduring appeal to the moral void created by scientific advancement,” he said.

Twenty-three students from four high schools in Wabash County applied for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship in 2013. The applicant pool was narrowed to six candidates based on academic achievement, essays, leadership, and community service. From the group of six finalists, the Community Foundation of Wabash County nominated one person and two alternates for the award.

The scholarships are the result of a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative to help Hoosier students reach higher levels of education. Indiana ranks among the lowest states in the percentage of residents over the age of 25 with a bachelor’s degree. There were 142 scholarships awarded statewide.